You know what? Kids make for lousy politics.

[Jed Dilligan]

The rancor currently infesting this board over one babbling baby on the plane is a case in point. People are extremely emotional about children whether they have them or not. Reason goes out the window.

The politics of "protect the kids" brought us the War on Drugs. In California we also have the Three Strikes law draining our coffers through unneccessary incarceration. That was all about "the children." Oh, and then there was the one that wanted to fit all "sex offenders" with GPS anklets. I wonder how much money the GPS anklet industry spent on that "protect the children" initiative.

You know what? I think we should all sign a pledge that we won't back any further "protect the children" law until "the children" are given universal health care and a decent public education. On that day, I will begin to believe our politicians and government actually give a flyin' freak about "the children."

[ret5hd]

1. Hear Hear! Excellent way of putting it. I'm gonna use this.

[Jed Dilligan]

2. Three R's and only one K?

I like this point, so I'm gonna keep it kicked for a bit.

[TahitiNut]

3. The whole country is being infantilized ... and parenting is getting worse and worse.

[Katherine Brengle]

4. Makes sense to me --

while I don't particularly think drug dealers and pedophiles deserve much, I do think there are more pressing matters that need our attention at the moment.

[Missy Vixen]

5. Absolutely

>On that day, I will begin to believe our politicians and government actually give a flyin' freak about "the children."<

Let's hear it for free health care and comprehensive education for every child. It's an idea that should have been implemented many, many years ago.

Julie
Head Start graduate

[Withywindle]

6. War on Drugs...

and considerably lower-key wars against video games, certain kinds of music, porn, the Internet, certain kinds of advertising, certain books, up to and including Janet Jackson's boob and gay men's choirs at baseball games. (Right-wingers and left-wingers go after different things for different reasons, but on both sides you can hear the idea that children need to be protected from certain IDEAS, and that justifies trying to restrain access to them for everybody--somehow. I don't get it. I don't want to get it.)

[Jed Dilligan]

8. Who cares if they develop Type II diabetes,

as long as they never see a boob.

[Withywindle]

11. Presumably they all have, right?

I mean, breastfeeding is healthy. That's the stupid thing about the whole boob incident, people going on about how their 4-year-olds were traumatized by Tittigate. Hell, a 4-year-old is still way more likely to associate boobs with LUNCH than with sex.

Don't even get me started on education. I mean, better kids never learn to read at all than that they read something "trashy" or "satanic" or "too violent," right?

[toddaa]

7. Kill the Children!!!

That'll teach the brats.

[mikelgb]

9. and the republican says great:

I'll write a bill that requires all parents to buy health insurance for their children.

[Jed Dilligan]

10. Yes!

Jail one parent after another until every kid lands with one who WILL pay. There's a system!

[mikelgb]

12. i thought this was going to be a reant about the damn ad on the side of the screen

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. Enjoying that 40 hour work week?

It was brought to you by "protect the kids" democrats.

I won't be signing that pledge, and I'll continue justifying my support for public schools and universal health care as being on their behalf.

In contrast to some on this board, I do think that the world revolves around the next generation. The grownups had their opportunity and we have made bollocks of it.

[Katherine Brengle]

15. Well said.

Good points.

[Jed Dilligan]

17. You're reading my post backwards. nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. What part of "kids make for lousy politics" am I misinterpreting?

Politics is the craft of developing a society for subsequent generations to live in. All of my political views are shaped by the effect it has on those yet to come.

[Jed Dilligan]

19. The part you're misinterpreting is

the post is FOR universal healthcare and public schools, not against it. The point is I won't believe any politician is "for the children" until they do something about these basic issues.

[treestar]

14. This is a great idea

Repukes totally need to face up to this.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Mr. Jed Dilligan, you sir, have made the Post of the Month

That is one terrific idea!

K and R

[CrispyQ]

20. That would make a fantastic LTTE.